R a id of R u t h - But this place was the fcene of more ferious tranfaftions, which.
laid the foundation of a refentment that proved fatal to its noble
mafter. Here was executed the generous delign of freeing farm
VI. from his worthlefs favorites, who were poifoning his youth
with exalted notions of royal prerogative; and inftilling into
him thofe principles which, in after times, proved fo deftruftive to
his progeny. Gowrie, with numbers of other peers,, inveigled:
James into this caftle, in the year 1582, on his return from a hunt-
ing match in Athol. When he was about to depart, he was Hop. I
ped by the nobles in a body, who prefented him with a memorial
againft the ill conduit of his principal favorites. He endeavoured
to free himfelf from reftraint; but was prevented; and upon his
burfting into tears, was told'by the guardian of Glames, that it m\
letter children weep than bearded men. This was called the Raid if
Ruthven. The confpirators carried him off; but on his efcape he
again refigned himfelf to Arran, a favorite void of every fpecies of
virtue, and even, after an aft of oblivion, delcared them guilty of
high treafon, and aftually put Gowrie to death at Sterling, after a
trial injurious to his majefty’s honor.
After the doubtful confpiracy of the two fons of this unfortunate
nobleman at Perth, and after their deaths, and p o f th u m o w
conviftion, the very name was aboliihed by aft of parliament;
the houfe indeed was preferved ; but to obliterate all memory of fo
detefted a family, even the name of that was changed to Hunting
Tower.
T h e L uw sw o e k . Near this houfe is the ftone building called the Lowswork, fo
ftyled from Low, the firft contriver. This ferves to divert part of
■ the
Ihe water of Almond into an aqueduft, leading to Perth, which is
of the greateft fervice to the various mills at this prefent time,
and antiently aififted to make the place almoft impregnable, by
filling the ditch that furrounded the walls. On one fide of this
a q u e d u f t is the boult of Balhoufie, a ftone work, perforated with an
orifice, thirty-two inches round, guarded with a circle of iron at
each end. This hole is permitted, by very antient ufage, to convey,
ai portion of water to the mill of that name. A contraft is ftill
extant between the magiftrates of Perth and Eviot, then owner of
Balhoufie, in 1464, about the repair of this boult ; and very lately
the fame has been renewed by the Earl of Kinnoull, the prefent
noble poffeflbr of thofe lands*.
■Mr. Buff from this fpot pointed to me the fite of Tillilum, near
Perth, once a convent of Carmelites, in the eaft end of the pariih
of TiWirmoor. The founder is not mentioned : we only learn
from Keith, that Richard Inverkeithing, bifhop of Dunkeld, built
fière a fine chapel and a houfe, in 1262, and that the fynods of tha
djbcefe were wont to be kept here for fear of the Cattaranes, or
highland robbers, till the year 1460, when Thomas Lauder, biihop
of Dunkeld, removed them to his own cathedral -f-.
■In my return to Dupplin had a diftant view of Methwen, a place
lying between Tibbirmoor and the Almond, noted for the defeat
As it is my wilh to preferve the memory o f every benefactor to the human
pécies, I muft not omit mention o f Alexander C h riftie, an Irijh-Scot, who about
B y years ago, in this pariih,. at a place called fu llo ch , fet up the firft bleaching
ground ; and was the firft perfon who introduced the right culture o f potatoes
mto this country.
■ t M.S. Life o f the Bilb«ps.
.. ... Robert
T n .L i t .U M .